Statement of Dr. Peter Hotez, President of the Sabin Vaccine Institute and Director of its Product Development Partnership on the Group of 7 (G7) Summit, at which the leaders of Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Italy and France affirmed a commitment to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

During the month of October, END7 student supporters are celebrating NTD Success Stories — spreading the exciting news that many countries around the world have already made incredible progress towards the control and elimination of some NTDs. In recent weeks, there have been many new successes to celebrate.

On June 11, 2014, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced a bipartisan bill in the House of Representatives to support the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the United States and abroad. H.R. 4847, the “End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act,” calls for the expansion of USAID’s NTD program; increased U.S. Government advocacy for NTDs among international development and financing institutions; reporting from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on NTDs in the United States; the creation of one or more NTD centers of excellence to increase research and development (R&D); and the establishment of a panel on intestinal worm infections, one of the most pervasive NTDs.